Red translucent plate type growth

[R eef]

I have translucent red flat growths on my hammer coral skeleton connected at a single edge, they don't move (so not flat worm) but flex in the current and grow out in all directions and are a couple of cms each. Almost looks like paper thin acrylic...

Any ideas?

I'll upload a photo shortly..



Also a few weeks ago I noticed 3 or 4 yellow 'balls' appear in the sand, about 0.5cm diameter, coral spawn/eggs?

 

[saltyhog]

Sounds like it might be red bubble algae by the translucent description.

 

[Squid]

Sounds like a sponge to me

 

[R eef]

At first I thought it was bubble algae but its growing flat, see picture...

Could it be a sponge? Small yellow ball in the middle, right of xenia... they just appeared overnight...

 

[Waters]

The red looks like it could be a Macro algae....not sure about the yellow ball.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

the red is a macro algae. I think its gracilaria curtissae. And yea possibly a ball sponge.
Congratulations. Good stuff.

 

[R eef]

Thanks all, the ball appears to be a yellow ball sponge, and the red plate possibly macro algae, its odd characteristic for algae as it fractures like glass when touched rather than flexible like typical algae.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Thanks all, the ball appears to be a yellow ball sponge, and the red plate possibly macro algae, its odd characteristic for algae as it fractures like glass when touched rather than flexible like typical algae.

OOOH maybe a plating corraline?? also some macros are calcareous (is that a a word?) so they are brittle.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

That red stuff is what we called Red Kelp. I forget the scientific name, but maybe it's in my references. BRB.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Look up some of the Fauchea species.

 

[Squid]

Red algae looks like possibly nemastoma, gracilaria or fauchea.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Are any of those brittle? That stmped me.

 

[R eef]

It looks like Red bush algae. As it grows out I presume it becomes more flexible. (?)

And the description fits as well.. 'Ornamental Gracilaria Algae is a flat leafed, densely branching semi-transparent algae'

Thanks.